Rachelle's Simple Pleasures.....

Oscar Time....

2013-02-23T11:34:00.001-07:00

For as long as I can remember I've always been fascinated by old photographs. I spend hours looking through drawers of vintage black and white photos at my parents and grandparents and gush over outfits while wishing I could be a fly on the wall at that moment. Old Hollywood is something I always secretly wish I could fly back in time to see. Here's a little star studded trip down memory lane, the golden age that still show the A-listers how it should be done.

Happy 4th of July

2012-07-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday America!

God Bless

Inspiration

2012-07-02T13:55:00.002-07:00

Needed to read this today, thought you might too.

Have a great inspiring week

Pretty in Peony

2012-06-25T10:52:00.002-07:00

Summer is definitely upon us, and one thing that I love about summertime is The princess of all flowers – the peony, With their unbelievable array of colors – from Whites to Pale Pinks, Corals, Hot pinks and burgundies – I love how they look and smell but I especially love watching them go from bud to full bloom!

Summer Weekend Getaway

2012-06-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine and I both agreed that we were in need of a fun girl weekend trip together, we choose to stop in Palm Springs and have a nice overnight at my brother's and then head up to Newport Beach. We ended up having one of the best weekends together filled with amazing food, shopping, exploring, and of course the beach!! Here's some snaps from our getaway girls weekend. See my list of favorites below!

Every time I'm in Newport Beach, this is my favorite breakfast place.

Mimosa's for breakfast

Awww...the beach!

Great place for some yummy deserts

I love driving around in Corna Del Mar looking at the lovely homes and unique ones like this one. This is called the whale house. Can you see the teeth?

My Favorite new candle. "Aspen Bay Candle", that I bought on Balboa Island. I have been burning it everyday since I've been back.

Wishing you a wonderful magical week

Lost In Paris

2012-06-20T09:12:00.001-07:00

To be young in Paris, take me there now....

Vintage French Garden Table

2012-06-19T13:54:00.001-07:00

I am loving a simple little garden table and the neat ideas you can create with them.

Happy Tuesday!

Beach Totes

2012-06-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Every spring I start my hunt for a new beach tote, but this year I'm a little late and with some trips on the horizon, I better make my mind up and choose one finally. I have a few requirements 1)Having enough room to hold all beach/pool items and 2)be chic enough to wear around town. It seems like an easy thing to find but, trust me, it's ridiculous hard to find the "perfect" summer tote. Here are some I'm giving some serious consideration. Which one do you like?

Fat Face, stripped beach bag $60

BIG BUDDHA MAUI, $69.95

Bamboo 54 Beach Tote, Luggage Point, $28

Magid Woven Tote Black One Size, South Moon Under $64.75

The Sak Casual Classics II Top Zip Tote, Zappos, 39

Dipped Drawstring Beach Tote, Tory Burch $375 ouch!

Beach Bags by Rachelle's Simple Pleasure

Straw Hats

2012-06-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

One of my recent simple pleasure is a little straw hat again, I started wearing a Fedora last summer and now I am wanting a new panama hat in white. I am so inspired by all the fun style's you can create and top off any outfit! The trick: Never worry about the hat being too much. It isn't. Not unless you have a problem with people looking at you and thinking “She is just too cute.” Whether strolling through a farmers market, meeting a friend for lunch or just walking the pups., I love how a hat can add tons of style, personality and fun to even the most basic look. Just have fun with it!

Sheer for you top | Organic by John Patrick Two Pocket Short | Pachacuti Llano Panama fedora | Belle by Sigerson Morrison Andromeda

Studded shorts, Vintage distressed high waist demin | Maison Scotch T-Shirt | Cocobelle Suede Tie Sandals | Maison Michel Paul Panama Hat

My daughter and I sharing at Newport Beach last summer

Have a great week!

Restful Retreat

2012-06-01T14:47:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, the weekend, Stay cool...

Simple Pleasure's Bits

2012-05-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at a few things I've been loving lately.

Need to get back to this....

Love these bar stools

What a great idea!

Gorgeous

Am loving the idea of painting the ceiling

Love

Hope your having a simply wonderful week so far!

Simple Pleasure's Of My Week

2012-05-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

My guilty pleasure Dry Bar Scottsdale

When the weather is cool enough, like it was this past weekend....I so enjoy Arcadia's Market Place

Wine and some painting, what a fun time at Art of Merlot in Scottsdale

Red Velvet Cake at LGO

Happy Tuesday...Welcome back!

Three Day Weekend

2012-05-25T11:35:00.001-07:00

I'm sorry I haven't been posting lately. It has been crazy busy around here with some new projects I'm working on. I promise to get back in the groove after this long holiday weekend. I hope you are getting ready to enjoy the long weekend with some fun activities!

Simply Easy Recipe

2012-05-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm all about quick and easy recipes that call for minimal ingredients for the days that I don't want to spend much time in the kitchen. And since I'm always struggling to incorporate more organic greens in my daughter's and I diet, I decided to try out this pea prosciutto salad recipe I came across in Real Simple magazine. Not only did it take me less then 20 minutes to make but the combination was utterly perfect on a warm day. I'll definitely be making this one more often.

Summer Colors

2012-05-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

While I love that pastels are a hot commodity this summer season, I usually opted for my usual black, white and neutrals. But this Mother's Day, my fourteen year old daughter gave me the coolest gift to adding in some color to my wardrobe, and I think this is the perfect way to start.

The color is Trouville from Nars - A cosmetic line I'm completely obsessed with!

Happy Monday

Special Mother's Day

2012-05-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

This is a very special Mother's Day. My 82 year old mother is cancer free!! I was five years old when my mom was first diagnose with breast cancer. I remember not being allowed to go see her in her room, after her surgery, so my dad took me outside the hospital and around back to wave to her through her room window which was on the first floor. I have a nice memory of her sitting upright in her bed, hair and make-up done, while smiling waving back to me. Late last year her cancer caught up to her again. Once again we had to figure out how to tackle this once more. And that she did! She had the lump removed a couple of weeks ago and she is doing fine and cancer free! She is a tough one I must say, and I thank my lucky stars that she is my mom and doing well. This is one of my Favorite pictures of her at the beach. Beautiful!

Happy Mothers day to all the amazing mamas out there!

Grey In The Kitchen

2012-05-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

Simply love this. The grey cabinets with the marble are amazing!

What do you think?!

Recycled Dog Toy

2012-05-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Want to know what to do with all those old t-shirts filling your closet and drawers? Turn them into a fun "Tugga Toy" for your dog!! This project is so simple You’ll probably end up making one for your pooch, and ten more for every dog you know. You can find the easy how-to "right here".

Can't wait to put all of those drab t-shirt to good use.

Hope your having a great week so far!

Finding Vintage Furniture

2012-05-07T11:34:00.001-07:00

A simple stroll in a antique mall or thrift store to buy vintage furniture is something I love doing. I get lost in seeing all the ways I can reuse something old. One thing I learned, is that you could spend more than you intended. I have friends that do this as a job and they shared with me a few simple rules to follow when making purchases.

Turn the piece over - Make sure all the original wood, plastic, screws, nails and everything else is there, and that the wood matches. Differences in color usually signify repairs. Expect some wear and tear on older items. Sometimes, older pieces with repairs, especially professional-grade fixes, aren’t even devalued.

Open doors and drawers. Wiggle knobs. Sit down. Armoires, buffets and dressers should be treated as such. If something’s amiss, you’ll know right away. Chairs, stools, benches and sofas shouldn’t give. Move along if the seller won't let you test.

Check the upholstery. Other than obvious signs of damage, do foam cushions seem hard? Is fabric torn along seams or slightly stained? If you’ll have to reupholster a piece, that should be reflected in its price; try to negotiate cost.

Inspect the finish. Wood furniture is generally painted, stained, lacquered and oiled. If you’re open minded about a few dings and chips, then the world is your oyster. Keep in mind: If you’re investing in something really, really old, its original finish should be intact, no matter how decrepit. Otherwise, it’s not worth as much — maybe not even half.

This is a great side table I bought for my dauther's room from Audrey's in Phoenix. She always has such great items and great prices.

TGIF

2012-05-04T09:25:00.001-07:00

Whoo hoo it's Friday!! Is this not the cutest thing?!!

Wishing you fabulous weekend!

Insight

2012-05-02T08:26:00.001-07:00

This is a reminder I have to tell myself quite often. Everyone’s path in life is different. I am embracing my path and welcome it with open arms. Dare to be different!

Hope your having a great week so far.

Pintrest

2012-04-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

I know it's taken awhile, but I finally have joined the Pintrest community. I'm excited to get going and see what fun and inspirational things I can pin.

Hope you Follow Me, and happy pinning!!

Have a magical weekend

How To: Clean Makeup Brushes

2012-04-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

I recently noticed that my makeup brushes were looking a bit drab. And considering I use them everyday, they were overdue for a cleaning. Being once a makeup artist I know that all you need is a gentle shampoo and a little time to let them soak and dry. I also want to mention how important it is to clean them every 6 weeks since they can collect bacteria and lose their ability to blend. I sometimes don't follow this simple rule always, but After washing mine I'm even more motivated to do it more often—you'll be surprised how much makeup they hang on to and how much softer they are afterwards.

I used a mason jar to soak the brushes for 1-2 minutes in lukewarm water with a dash of Pureology's hydrating shampoo. Then I used the sink to rinse and dab them clean. Tip: For larger brushes drop a pea size amount into the palm of your hand and rub in a circular motion with the brush so that it suds up. Rinse and repeat if necessary.

After a quick soak and rinse, wipe the brushes on a towel and shape them so the hairs dry properly without any strays.

Tip: display your brushes in a vase or jar face up so they avoid collecting dust and dirt in a drawer or makeup bag.

Vintage Vespa

2012-04-24T11:29:00.003-07:00

I am pretty sure this is meant for me!!! How fun to dream that I live in a small town in the south of France. I love love it!

Hope you are having a wonderful week so far!

Monday, Monday

2012-04-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

I wish this is where I was spending my day!

But alas it is Monday and I will be

taking care of business today...

What does Monday hold for you?